Mrs. Leola Larthridge
September 23, 1918 - January 1, 2018
Leola Lathridge, who was lovingly known as “Big Mom” and “Momma Lee, passed away in Kalamazoo, Michigan on January 2, 2018 at the age of 99 years old. Leola was born in 1918 the daughter of Frank Lee Jr. and Hattie Dunlap in Selma, Alabama. She had to drop out of school in the 3rd grade to work in the fields to pick cotton to help her family. In 1938 at the age of 20, she moved to Kalamazoo, where she met her “First Love” Thorton Lathridge. The united in marriage in 1943. Leola worked for First Congregational Church for many years, until she retired. She enjoyed spending time with family, cooking, sewing, making quilts and embroidery. Leola’s smile, laughter and her presence will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her. Her love and inspiration will carry on through her grandchildren, nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her husband Thorton Lathridge; daughter, Rosie Lee Wallace; her father, Frank Lee Jr. and her mother Hattie Dunlap. Leola is survived by her daughter, Peggy Lee of Kalamazoo; a special daughter, Texiriel (“Tex”) Gray of Springfield, MI; sons, Freddie Lathridge of Kalamazoo and James Lathridge of Chicago, IL; 8 grandchildren; 15 great grandchildren and 28 great great-granchldren.
Leola Lathridge, who was lovingly known as “Big Mom” and “Momma Lee, passed away in Kalamazoo, Michigan on January 2, 2018 at the age of 99 years old. Leola was born in 1918 the daughter of Frank Lee Jr. and Hattie Dunlap in... View Obituary & Service Information